Ireland warm up towards the European u18 Champions qualifiers hit the rocks yesterday as they were beaten by Switzerland at Frank Cooke Park.
Irish manager Brian Kerr was hoping for a moral boosting win before Ireland travel to the Czech Republic next month for a qualifying mini-tournament (against the Czechs, Bulgaria and Moldova) but he and his team had no such luck as the Swiss earned a deserved victory.
Kerr's plight was not helped by the late withdrawal of the Nottingham Forest trio of Barry Roche, Brian Cash and Niall Hudson but even so they were expected to beat a Swiss team that were making the first trip to Ireland.
Ireland had no answer for the speedy Johann Luyet who made up with pace what he lacked in stature.
Luyet gave the visitors the lead in the 25th minute and added a second 12 minutes after the break to leave Ireland chasing the game and despite a late goal from substitute JJ Melligan the Irish suffered defeat.
"There was some good open football but the referee caused an awful lot of problems by being too fussy," said Kerr.
"We lacked a little bit of something up front but it was a decent game and they looked a reasonable side. I just wish they would swap their qualifying group (Belgium, Liechenstein and Malta) with us."
Ireland: Brian Murphy (Manchester City), David Van Zanten (Celtic), Danny Murphy (QPR), Clifford Byrne (Sunderland) capt., Paul Tierney (Manchester United), Joe Gamble (Reading), Colin Larkin (Wolves), Alan Cawley (Leeds United), Andy Reid (Nottingham Forest), Robert Doyle (Blackburn Rovers), Sean Thornton (Tranmere Rovers).
Subs: Ken Coleman (Wolves) for Van Zanten 46; Wayne Henderson (Aston Villa) for Murphy 46; JJ. Melligan (Wolves) for Reid 60; Robbie Martin (UCD) for Doyle 80; John Lester (Everton) for Cawley 86. |
